I have a new home! :) Visit me there!

The Traveling Havaianas has packed up! I'm moving to Wordpress! So this is the official announcement--please visit my new blog address:

http://thetravelinghavaianas.wordpress.com

Who knows, I'll have my own domain name soon :) But meanwhile, I'll be keeping my blog updated with anything related to travel and photography so you can come back for more. My new address is more fresh and clean, and even if I'll miss this (my Blogger), my passions will carry on and will flow from there. Place it in your bookmarks; see you there!

The Traveling Havaianas... 2.0

This blog is moving to a new home soon! Something better this way comes... ;) See ya soon!

Keep calm and read on! Thanks for your support. :)

It's More Fun the Philippines (The Traveling Havaianas version)

The moment I read in the tweets and heard the buzz going around the latest Department of Tourism campaign, It's More Fun in the Philippines, it got me really excited because I KNOW for myself why it is so. It's something I could relate to. As a travel photographer, blogger, and advocate, my feet have taken me to different places in and outside of the country. Yes, many have impressed me and I've had a great time in them but needless to say, there's no place like ours. It is home. This place is just... FUN.

As what Atty. Ted Te in his commentary said, "Ask any Filipino who has ever stayed away from the Philippines involuntarily.  Ask them why they choose to look for Filipinos when they get to whichever part of the world they are in;  why there are community gatherings;  why there is always the inevitable search for the Filipino store.  Ask why we choose to carve out a small patch of PH anywhere we find ourselves in.  Because it IS more fun in the Philippines."


I'd like to thank the DOT for jumpstarting this open invitation to all to find out why the Philippines is more fun. For reminding us that despite its eccentricities, we have a country to be proud of. For igniting once again, unity, to have one spirit, one soul, and for striking a chord in us that this place, where we are born, makes us truly alive.

I have my own share It's More Fun the Philippines memes. I encourage you to make your own. HAVE FUN! :)

My Awesome Planner for 2012.

I've long quit collecting stickers for the Starbucks 2012 planner (and collecting calories from their toffee nut latte frappuccino). I've decided I won't join the bandwagon and get pressured buying coffee just to have this planner--which almost everybody else has. ;)

But... I got this really Awesome Planner which I think suits me! It's designed for the foodie and travel lover. Thanks to Anton Diaz of Our Awesome Planet who came up with this planner. :)

(Photo from Anton Diaz.)

Cover of the Awesome Planner 2012. 

Suggested travels perfect for each month. 

The monthly calendar which contains the 2012 Philippine holidays,
festivals, fiestas, and other events. It also has weekly pages.
(Photo from Anton Diaz.)

One of my favorite sections. The travel vision board, where you
can post your dream destinations for the year.

The vision board. (Photo from Anton Diaz.)

The planner also features different road trip destinations for each month and also a directory of 100 go-to restaurants. I'm already looking forward to filling this up throughout 2012... :) 

For more details of the Awesome Planner and how to order, check out www.facebook.com/AwesomePlanner.